The first studio I worked in the Spine Corrector was stored under the Cadillac. It gathered some dust being under there because it wasn't so easy to get out. And so I didn't explore its wonder as much as I wanted. As I began studying at Vintage Pilates the Spine Corrector became my warm up buddy. A tool to help my hyper mobile spine find its connections.
But, the Spine Corrector wasn't just my warm up buddy. Another teacher would be right there next to me on her Spine Corrector. Extension wasn't her super power. Over a year I watched her chest open and her extension become more possible. I became obsessed with how everyone could benefit from the Spine Corrector. Sometimes it was their warm up. Others it was after we had wrapped their Reformer or Mat.
And, that was just the Spine Corrector. While studying at Vintage I watched Jay Grimes teach one of his long time clients. I noticed how he was using the Ladder Barrel after his Reformer work. Doing Backbend Stretches and Jumping Stomach. And then seeing how his clients Teaser, Snake and more became longer and stronger.
Fascinated by how the Barrels could support a bendy body, a tight body, a beginner to advanced Pilates lover I dove in deeper. Playing with how the Small Barrel felt compared to the Spine Corrector. Not just on my body but clients too! And, this exploration allowed them to find out their barrel partner. Did they need the Small Barrel? Or the top side of the Spine Corrector? Was the bigger side of the Spine Corrector better?
And while in Pilates the Barrels are commonly known as the Spine Corrector or Step Barrel, Ladder Barrel and Small Barrel. The C Shaper is part of my Barrel play. I learned from my teachers it was the inverse of the Ladder Barrel. And, its an incredible way to explore our bodies longest flexion. Again, for a bendy body like mine the C Shaper made me work for my Hundred, Ab Series and more. Letting me know when I was "going through the motions" vs working from my center. And for the tighter bodies helping them find that length was key!
So, as I explored all the Barrels I knew when I put together the Barrels Flashcard deck I wanted it to be robust! I wanted it to cover more than just the Arm and Leg Series. More than just the Stretches. I wanted Pilates lovers of all levels and trainings to be able to explore the depth of each Barrel. Put together a warm up, cool down, or workout that helped them find their longest extension, strongest flexion and enhance their Pilates Mat and Reformer practice because of it.
Study, nerd out, plan out your Pilates Barrels with over 110 exercises on the Spine Corrector, Ladder Barrel, Small Barrel and C Shaper! Now available at Pilates.com
Lesley Logan, NCPT, MA
Owner - Profitable Pilates
Lesley, a PMA Certified Pilates Teacher, has taught the Classical Method since 2008. With years of experience in retail and studio management, she studied “The Work” under Elder Jay Grimes. Lesley appears on PilatesAnytime.com and is the author of Profitable Pilates: Everything but the Exercises, which launched her coaching business. Find courses, blogs, and webinars to grow your Pilates business. Learn more at profitablepilates.com.
